This goose is loose — thanks to Lakeville firefighters

Tuesday

Firefighters rescued a goose stuck in ice from Long Pond on Monday afternoon.

LAKEVILLE — Firefighters rescued a goose that was partially stuck in ice on a frozen pond Monday afternoon.

Animal Control Officer David Frates contacted the Lakeville Fire Department just after 2 p.m. after finding a lone goose stranded on the ice on Long Pond, which borders County Street and Lakeside Avenue (Route 18), as well as many side streets. The pond is about five miles south of the Middleboro border.

"Frates was concerned that if the goose was left to suffer on the ice, concerned citizens would attempt to rescue the animal themselves," said Fire Chief Michael O'Brien.

The chief responded to Beechtree Drive and said he agreed with the animal control officer's assessment and decided his department would perform a rescue.

The goose (affectionately named "Goosie" by a neighborhood girl who watched the rescue) was alive, but partially frozen in the ice. The firefighters covered the bird with a blanket to try to calm it and chipped away at the ice until it was free.

"With the signal from rescuers, the on shore crew hauled rescuers and the goose back to the shore," O'Brien said. "The bird was then transferred to the animal control officer for further care."

The chief said the rescue served as a great training exercise for his department.

“This was a very calm scene, we made our way to the area without lights or sirens. We took our time and sized up the situation," he said. "This was an absolute great training drill for us. We are better prepared to handle the next ice rescue."

The chief said it also serves as a reminder that the ice is not yet safe for people to be on, especially if a lighter animal became stuck in the ice.

"The ice is not safe," O'Brien said. "Had anyone gone out there on their own they would have gone through. Our ice rescue sled was the only thing that kept us from going through."